Longhua Temple
» Shanghai, Jiang Su

龙华寺 都市净土 沪上宗教建筑

Longhua Si

Located on the Longhua Road at the south of the city, Longhua Park is famous for the ancient Longhua Temple, Longhua Pagoda, the Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony and the peach blossoms. Besides its long history, Longhua Temple is the largest temple in Shanghai. It occupies an area of over 20,000 square meters (five acres) and the architectural proportion is about 5,000 square meters (one point two acres).

Building History

How it got its name

The temple was first build in 242 A.D., during the Three Kingdoms Period. According to a legend, Sun Quan, King of the Kingdom of Wu, had obtained Sharira relics, which are cremated remains of the Buddha. To house these precious relics, the king ordered the construction of 13 pagodas. Longhua Pagoda (Longhua Ta), part of the Longhua temple complex, is said to have been one of them. Like the function of the pagoda, the name of the temple also has its origin in a local legend according to which a dragon once appeared on the site.

Destory and Rebuild

The temple was destroyed by war towards the end of the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in 977 A.D., during the Northern Song Dynasty. (According to another version of the story, as contained in Song and Yuan Dynasty local histories, the temple was first built by the King of Wuyue in the early Song dynasty.) Later in the Song Dynasty, in 1064, it was renamed Kong Xiang Temple, but the original name Longhua Temple was restored in the Ming Dynasty during the reign of the Wanli Emperor.

Architectural Style

The present architectural design follows the Song Dynasty original. However, whereas the core of the present Longhua Pagoda survives from that period, most buildings in the temple proper were rebuilt during the reigns of the Tongzhi Emperor and the Guangxu Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. A modern restoration of the entire temple complex was carried out in 1954.

What to see

Besides its long history, Longhua Temple is the largest temple in Shanghai. It occupies an area of over 20,000 square meters (five acres) and the architectural proportion is about 5,000 square meters (one point two acres).

Along the 194 meters long (637 feet) axis are the Maitreya Hall (Miledian), Devajara Hall (Tianwangdian), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Three Sages Hall (Sanshengdian), Abbot's Hall (Fangzhangshi) and the Sutras Keeping Hall (Cangjinglou) which keeps the three treasures of the temple including the Dazang sutras, the gold seals and the Buddhist statues. Accessory halls on the two sides are the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, both of them are furnished with the same hexagonal windows and the curved eaves. The whole courtyard was built strictly in the style of traditional Buddhist symmetry and it's in accordance with the Chinese concept of beauty.

Something must see

Maitreya Hall (Mile Dian)

The Maitreya Hall (Mile Dian) housing a statue of Maitreya buddha and another in his manifestation as "Budai", or Cloth bag monk.

Heavenly King Hall (Tianwang Dian)

The Heavenly King Hall (Tianwang Dian) housing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Grand Hall of the Great Sage (Daxiong Baodian, or Mahavira Hall)

The most impressive of the four is the third hall, da xiong bao dian (Grand Hall). where a gilded statue of Sakyamuni sits under a swirling red and gold carved dome. He is flanked on each side by 18 arhats (disciples). Behind him, Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, presides over a fascinating tableau representing the process of reincarnation: a boat in the bottom right corner indicates birth, while death awaits at the bottom left corner.

The monks gather here in the Grand Hall each day from 8 to 11 AM and from 1 to 3 PM to pray for souls of the deceased, whose photos top the altar. You can watch this moving ceremony from the sidelines.

Three Sages Hall (San Sheng Dian)

The fourth hall, San sheng Bao Dian, features three incarnations of the Buddha. Behind the third and fourth halls is a simple, popular vegetarian restaurant (11a.m. - 2p.m.), as well as the Longhua Hotel and a room filled seven rows deep with small golden statues.

Abbot's Hall (Fangzhang Shi)

The Abbot's Hall (Fangzhang Shi) is a place for lectures and formal meetings.

Something suggest to see

Bell Tower

Near the front entrance stands a three-story bell tower (Zhong Lu), where a 3.3-ton bronze bell is rung at midnight every New Year's Eve (Dec 31-Jan 1). The tower's 3,000-kilogram (3.3-ton) bronze bell, cast in 1894, is struck 108 times to dispel all the worries said to be afflicting mankind. For a fee of 10 ($1.25), you can strike the bell, but for three times only.

Temple Grounds

The extensive temple grounds, on the north side of the newly created pedestrian street, are often crowded with incense-bearing supplicants. There are four main halls, which are only about 100 years old.

Copper Bell

A venerable copper bell which is two meters in height, one point three meters in diameter and weighs five tons (11,023 pounds) is placed on the three-storied Bell Tower. The Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony on 31st December is regarded as one of the eight great attractions of Shanghai. Welcoming the New Year in the melodious, heavenly sound of the bell is an interesting and memorable experience.

Longhua Pagoda

The seven-storied, 40.4 meters high Longhua Pagoda stands in front of the Longhua Temple, the brick body and the wooden staircases make up the main structure of the Longhua Pagoda. Each storey is smaller than the storey below, and all the levels are encircled by balconies and banisters. Bells on each corner of the octagonal eaves make cheerful and lively sounds as the wind passes by. Longhua Pagoda has been rebuilt several times, but the style of the Song Dynasty still remains to today.

Best season to come

In late Spring

In late spring, when the peaches in Longhua Park are in full blossom and the temple fair (on the 3rd March, lunar calendar) is under way, large numbers of tourists and pilgrims will come and the Longhua will become a place of great hustle and bustle.

In April

Every April is the Longhua Temple Fair, when the entire temple area is packed with stalls selling Chinese food, crafts and more. The temple is elaborately decorated for the occasion, and it is said that dragons visit the temple to grant people's wishes.

When to visit

  • Opening Hours: 7:10a.m. - 4:30p.m.
  • Recommended Time for a Visit: One and a half hours

Attractions around » Shanghai, Jiang Su

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Nightlife

Nightlife

Day Entertainment & Sports

Day Entertainment & Sports

Shopping & Leisure

Shopping & Leisure

  Weather

  1. What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?
  2. What's the best season for traveling there?

  Transportation

  1. What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

  Food

  1. What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?
  2. What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

  Shopping

  1. Where is the most famous area for shopping here?
  2. Where can we visit on our spare time?

  Travel

  1. How about Shanghai's nightlife?

  Other Hints

  1. How many airports do Shanghai have?
  2. What is the city code of Shanghai?

  • What should we need to know when visiting Shanghai in different seasons?

    The four seasons are easy to tell apart. The weather is pleasant, and the number of all kinds of products is large in Spring and Autumn.

    Every June and July is the mold rain season, so it is usually humid in hotel rooms. Umbrella is a necessary thing to bring with during the rainy weather.

    The coldest time is from late January to early February. Even though there is not much snow, warm clothes are still needed, because cold wind is always unendurable. Hotel rooms are equipped with air-conditions, so please stay warm in the room.

    It is usually super hot in July and August. Weather with higher than 35 C usually stays for about ten days, so that prevention from overheat is very necessary.


  • What's the best season for traveling there?

    After humid mold rain season and cold winter, there comes the Spring with blooming flowers, or the Autumn with falling red leaves, which are the best the seasons for trevaling.


  • What about the transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities?

    Travel line in the east China includes Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It usually takes about 2C3 hours to travel between cities. Medicine that prevents car-sickness is necessary.

    Multi-city traveling usually requires travelers to put up each night in different cities. Please take care of your belongings when checking out.


  • What's the specialty of Shanghai cuisine?

    Shanghai cuisine is a mixture of five different cuisines and western food. Apart from its local food, it also has Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Yangzhou cuisine, Chaozhou Cuisine, Anhui Cuisine and vegetarian cuisine, etc.

    Of course, Italian food, Russian food, French food, Vietnamese food, Korean food and Japanese food can also be found in Shanghai.

    Local people like food with light seasoning and light sweetness. Rice is their main food. People that like strong seasoning can prepare their own seasonings.

    Travelers with special needs please give us notice before hand, so we can prepare for you earlier according to your requirements.


  • What are the must-eat Shanghai snacks? And what to notice?

    Shanghai Nanxiang Dumplings, Crab Roe Dumplings, Steamed Dumplings Filled with Minced Meat and Gravy, Fermented Rice with Pigeon Eggs, Rib Rice Cakes, Eggs Boiled with Five Ingredients, Five Ingredients Beans, etc. There are a lot of delicious local food.

    Please mind the sanitation when enjoying the tasty food.


  • Where is the most famous area for shopping here?

    The shopping heaven in Shanghai is Nanjing Road. It has a name of 'the number one shopping street in China.' Now all kinds of stores have been opened by all kinds of business people. There are not only old stores that have hundreds of years, but also modern shopping malls like Friendship Europe Shopping Mall, Mancton Square, HUalian Shopping Center, etc.

    Huaihai Road is as famous as Nanjing Road. Shopping malls are standing at each side of the road: Guangna World Center, Paris Spring, Meimei Shopping Center, Parkson, etc. World famous brand can all be found in the shopping malls, which make Shanghai a shopping center of world class.

    Sichuan North Road's stores offer reasonable prices, which attracts a lot of common people. Xizangzhong Road had developed food and travel industry.


  • Where can we visit on our spare time?

    Shanghai is where Chinese movie originated. It is also where a lot of international movie festivals take place. There are world-class theaters. Famous movies and latest movies can all be found in Shanghai's movie theaters.

    Huanyi Movie Theather on Nanjing West Road, Yongle Palace on Anfu Road are the most famous movie theathers in Shanghai.

    You can also go to teahouse. Different from traditional teahouse, the teahouse in Shanghai adds more modern atmosphere that attracts more and more young people.

    New theme parks and amusement parks in Shanghai are good choices too. Modern equipments and beautiful natural scenes will bring you to the ideal land.


  • How about Shanghai's nightlife?

    Bars, KTV and DISCO are indispensable in a busy city like Shanghai. Beautiful lights are like the reflection of the stars, lightening the whole city and bring the city endless liveliness.

    Blue Belt Night Club, Night Paris and the famous Big World are all well known and loved by young people. Dancing people and fragrant martini will make you forget about tiredness and start to enjoy the charm of Shanghai city.


  • How many airports does Shanghai have?

    There are two international airports in Shanghai, which are Hongqiao Aireport and Pudong International Airport.

    Hundreds of airlines are in service, which can reach to every big and medium city in China and some cities in each country.

    Air traffic is very convenient. Pudong International Airport is mainly for international airlines, while Hongqiao Airport is mainly for national airlines.


  • What is the city code of Shanghai?

    Shanghai's area code: 021


First built in 242 A.D. by Sun Quan, the king of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Longhua Temple is the oldest temple in Shanghai for its long history of over 1700 years. Because of the several destructions by the wars, most of the buildings in Longhua Temple were reconstructed during the reign of the Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty.



Tour Searching
Tour Packages We Provide
Package Searching 101
Customized Tour Design
Tour Booking
Fill Your Cart
Travel Agreement
Order Confirmation
Deposit & Payment
Methods of Payment
Deposit
Final Payment
Cancellation
Alteration
Customer Service
Contact Us
Our Guarantees
Lodge a Complaint
Travel Tips
Sitemap
Popular China Travel Destinations & Tours
phone U.S.A. +1 (310) 997-0051 / +1 (310) 878-2934
Canada +1 (604) 998-6945
China +86 (10) 8409-8570 / +86 (10) 8409-8571
email info@yeschinatour.commsn: help@yeschinatour.com